A Strategy for Success 2014/15 to 2016/17 2 www.hlcollege.ac.uk Call: 0800 032 1986 Foreword At Herefordshire and Ludlow College we have a very good track record of providing excellent education and training, supporting the development of students who make successful transitions into work, university, or other continuing education. We are delighted to offer outstanding resources and facilities for learning in Hereford, Holme Lacy and Ludlow, and deliver some of the best results in England for our students. This Strategic Plan is the result of extensive discussion and consultation both within the College and with our external partners. It describes how we intend to build on our existing strengths and make further Ian Peake improvements to deliver the very best education for Principal & Chief Executive every single student. Welcome 3 A Strategy for Success 2014/15 to 2016/17 The National Context Standards in further education are The economic returns of generally high. 73% of colleges were investment in further education There are 391 further education judged good or outstanding at their generate an additional £75 colleges in the UK. Herefordshire most recent Ofsted inspection. billion for the economy over the and Ludlow College is one of 218 Student satisfaction levels are lifetime of 19+ students; adult general further education colleges good, most colleges scoring over 8 apprenticeships return around £18 in England. There are also 93 sixth out of 10, and employers consider to the economy for every £1 of form and 29 specialist colleges in 17 and 18-year-old college leavers Government funding. But colleges England. better prepared for work than do far more than contribute to school students of the same age. economic growth – they also UK colleges educate and train have a hugely positive impact on 918,000 16 to 18-year-olds, Colleges are substantial businesses community cohesion and personal compared to 441,000 who learn in in their own right, with a total well-being, giving satisfaction maintained schools and academies. income of £7.7 billion in England, and improving the life chances of Over 2 million adults study or train employing 139,000 full-time millions of UK citizens. in colleges, 154,000 of whom equivalent people. They also run study university-level courses; the 1,300 businesses which are open to The Local Context majority of Foundation Degree the public, including restaurants, and HNC/D students are taught in hair and beauty salons, sports Herefordshire and Ludlow College colleges. venues and theatres. is located in Herefordshire and 4 www.hlcollege.ac.uk Call: 0800 032 1986 www.ludlow-college.ac.uk south Shropshire, situated in the (2,000), Bishop’s Castle (1,600), nationally. Only 2% of Herefordshire south-west corner of the West and Clun (650). businesses employ 50 or more Midlands region, in the heart of people, but they account for 42% of the Welsh Marches. The area Both counties have an older age all employees. In 2012, the industries is predominantly rural and of demographic than average partly that contributed the most to exceptional natural beauty: fertile because many young people leave the local economy were: public unspoilt farmland; the superb Wye the area to study at age 18 and do administration, education, health, Valley; the Malvern and Shropshire not return. The vast majority of defence and other services (20%); Hills; and the Black Mountains. residents are of white ethnic origin; production (18%); distribution, the only significant minority being transport and communication, Herefordshire and south Shropshire white residents of non British or including hotels and restaurants, are very sparsely populated, some Irish origin (2.4% in Herefordshire, wholesale and retail and car repairs of the least populated areas of 1.9% in Shropshire). (17%); and agriculture (10%). These England. Of the 185,000 residents four sectors made up almost two- of Herefordshire, many live in Herefordshire’s economic output is low compared to the regional thirds of Herefordshire’s economic rural locations outside the main output. In terms of employment, population centres of the cathedral and national economy; wages are well below national average, but in 2012, 59% of employees worked city of Hereford (58,900), and in the wholesale and retail trade; the historic market towns of unemployment is also significantly lower than average. manufacturing; human health and Leominster (11,700), Ross-on- social work; and education. The Wye (10,600) Ledbury (9,600), One in seven of the workforce is economy of south Shropshire is Bromyard (4,500), and Kington self-employed, one of the highest (3,200). South Shropshire’s market rates in the country. The majority, towns are Ludlow (10,500), 86%, of the county’s 8,800 business Church Stretton (4,700), Craven units are small, with from one to Arms (2,300), Cleobury Mortimer ten employees, compared to 85% 5 broadly similar to that of and there is much innovative and Herefordshire. excellent practice. There are 105 primary schools, 4 special schools, The Marches Local Enterprise 3 pupil referral units and 20 Partnership (LEP) is the principal secondary schools in Herefordshire driver for economic growth in and south Shropshire, six of which Herefordshire, Shropshire, and offer post-16 provision. Telford and Wrekin, seeking to create the conditions for economic The area’s largest and most diverse vitality and sustainable employment College is Herefordshire and Ludlow across the region, which is home College. Three other successful to 630,000 people and 28,000 colleges are sited in Hereford: a businesses. The priority growth specialist arts college, a sixth form sectors for the Marches include college, and a specialist college for HLC’s Hereford Campus at Folly Lane advanced manufacturing, food and the blind and visually impaired. drink, defence and security, the visitor economy and environmental technologies and services. Children, young people and adults are provided with generally good primary and secondary education in Herefordshire and south Shropshire. Most of the schools are judged by Ofsted to be good or HLC’s Holme Lacy Campus - Bower House HLC’s Ludlow College - High Hall outstanding, many are academies, 6 www.hlcollege.ac.uk Call: 0800 032 1986 www.ludlow-college.ac.uk Herefordshire and Ludlow The College serves 2,300 full-time and 4,500 part-time learners, including College (HLC) 430 on university-level courses and 750 apprentices. University HLC is a high performing further programmes are growing steadily, education college located at three facilitated by Associate College status distinctive campuses in Hereford, conferred to HLC by the University of Holme Lacy and Ludlow. The Worcester. Hereford Campus provides a wide range of predominantly vocational The majority of the full-time students, and university-level courses in 1,700, are aged 16 to 18. Student the Faculties of Technology and retention and achievement rates are Community Studies. outstanding, in the top 10% in England, and almost all learners progress At Holme Lacy, just six miles from into further or higher education or Hereford city centre, the Faculty employment on completion of their of Land-based Studies delivers an studies. impressive range of vocational courses created for those who Prior to merging with Ludlow College, wish to work in the rural economy. the former Herefordshire College Ludlow College, founded in the of Technology was awarded ‘good’ year 1200, is a centre for academic grades by Ofsted in the five key excellence and focuses on an A Level areas inspected: overall effectiveness curriculum, preparing young people of provision; capacity to improve; for progression to university. outcomes for learners; quality of provision; and leadership and management. 7 Higher education was reviewed The Planning Process This simple mission will help us to by the Quality Assurance Agency keep focussing relentlessly on our in February 2014 and several areas The purpose of this Strategic Plan most important stakeholders. of good practice were identified, is to ensure that the College retains including: the effectiveness of the its focus on the things that really College Vision extensive embedded academic matter, and keeps its thinking up to and pastoral support systems; date, adapting to societal changes ‘To give our learners the best effective preparation of students and the expectations of learners possible education, training and for higher level study; and the and other key stakeholders. personal support so they may: design of programmes which • Gain employment in their chosen The College is a community leader enables students to acquire vocation and enhances the quality of life, additional vocationally relevant • Further develop their career particularly for the residents of accreditations. • Progress to higher education Herefordshire and Shropshire. • Realise their full potential The College has a talented and The College is immensely grateful to • Make a positive contribution to well-qualified staff of 500, some its extensive network of partners, the community.’ 300 full-time equivalent, making many of whom have contributed to it one of the largest employers in this plan through the consultation College Values Herefordshire and Shropshire. It is progress. an Investor in People, its success ‘We value our students, making being entirely the result of staff College Mission them our top priority. commitment, professionalism and We value our staff, supporting and a desire to serve learners so they developing them. can achieve their very best. ‘Success for We value our community and employers. our Students’ We value the pursuit of excellence. 8 www.hlcollege.ac.uk Call: 0800 032 1986 www.ludlow-college.ac.uk We value equality of opportunity 1. To inspire all our learners to and diversity. achieve their best. We value working together with integrity and commitment. • Ambitious For Every Single Student We value the effective and efficient Our ambition is that every single use of resources.’ learner at Herefordshire and Ludlow College should succeed.